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Celebrating Dr. Seuss in Fair Haven Schools

The Fair Haven school district’s week-long celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday was more fun than a Cat in the Hat.
Each year the March 2 birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, is remembered throughout the U.S. with the Read Across America event. This year’s was held Feb. 26 through March 2 when students at Viola L. Sickles and Knollwood schools were treated to a week filled with reading-based fun and discovery.

At Sickles, students’ families were a part of the journey as well, with events held to enlighten them about the amazing initiatives taking place.
On the evening of Feb. 26, Sickles School Learning Consultant Kristen Burghart presented a program dubbed The ABCs of Decoding. This session was designed to help parents learn more about how children become readers.
On the evening of Feb. 27 and afternoon of Feb. 28, a session called Balanced Literacy was presented to parents. Sickles School Academic Interventionist and Reading Specialist Marilyn Schwartz and Principal and Curriculum Supervisor Cheryl Cuddihy helped parents learn more about balanced literacy.
The components of Sickles School programs, including reading and writing workshops, guided reading, word study, shared reading, and various benchmarking systems were discussed.
Students attending the Feb. 27 session with their parents were treated to a birthday party in honor of Dr. Seuss. The first 100 students to sign up enjoyed spending time with The Cat in the Hat (AKA Sickles School third-grade teacher Rose Raibick) and playing party games.
Theme days are always part of the fun during Read Across America at both Sickles and Knollwood schools. For Sickles School students, “Read Across America” week featured the following activities and initiatives:
  • Motivational Monday and Kick-Off Assembly — Wear shirts with motivational sayings or quotes;
  • Top Hat and Tech Tuesday — Wear your favorite hat, and get ready for some fun with digital literacy;
  • Wacky Wednesday and Mystery Guest Readers — Mix it up and wear your wackiest outfits, hairstyles, accessories and shoes … and special surprise guests will read Dr. Seuss stories in your classroom;
  • Theatrical Thursday — Dress up as your favorite literary character, and have fun with Reader’s Theatre in class;
  • Fun PJ Friday and Read Across America Video Premiere — Wear your silliest pajamas and bring your favorite pillow and blanket for a fun day of reading.

At Knollwood School, student council members read aloud to students in fourth and fifth grade classes. Additional activities and initiatives included:

  • Wacky Wednesday — Wear crazy socks and enjoy a scavenger hunt;
  • Cat in the Hat Thursday — Wear a crazy hat;
  • Friday, Dr. Seuss’s Birthday —Wear red, black, and white.
Fun fact: Writing as Dr. Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel wrote and illustrated 44 children’s books. These books have been translated into more than 15 languages and have sold over 200 million copies around the world.